The Origins of Kumbha Mela

[Guest guest]

The Origins of Kumbha Mela

 

Kumbha Mela derives its name from the immortal "Pot of Nectar"

described in ancient Vedic scriptures known as the Puranas. Kumbha in

Sanskrit language means "pot or pitcher'. Mela means "festival". Thus

Kumbha Mela literally means festival of the pot. Or in this case a

festival celebrating the appearance of the pot of nectar.

 

The ancient origin of the Kumbha Mela is described in the time-

honored Vedic literatures of India as having evolved from the bygone

days of the universe when the demigods and the demons conjointly

produced the nectar of immortality. It is said that the demigods and

the demons assembled on the shore of the milk ocean that lies in the

celestial region of the cosmos. The demigods and the demons made a

plan to churn the milk ocean to produce the nectar of immortality.

They then agreed to share the nectar equally once it was produced.

 

For the task of churning the milk ocean, the Mandara Mountain was

used as the churning rod, and Vasuki, the king of serpents, became

the rope for churning. As the churning began, the Mandara Mountain

began to sink deep into the ocean, at which time Vishnu incarnated as

a great tortoise and supported the mountain on His back. With the

demigods at Vasuki's tail and the demons at his head, they churned

the milk ocean for one thousand years.

 

The churning of the milk ocean first produced a deadly poison which

Shiva drank without being affected. As Shiva drank the poison, a few

drops fell from his hands and were licked up by scorpions, snakes,

and similar other deadly crea­tures. After Shiva drank the poison,

numerous opulent items were produced. First a surabhi cow appeared,

who could yield unlimited quantities of milk. A white horse named

Uccaihsrava was then produced, as well as a white elephant named

Airavata. Then a valuable gem called the Kaustubha-mani appeared

 

Next came the apsaras, beautiful dancing girls, and a host of other

wonderful things appeared from the milk ocean. At last a male person

named Dhanvantari appeared carrying the pot of immortal nectar in His

hands. Seeing Dhanvantari with the pot of nectar, both the demigods

and demons became anxious. The demigods, being fearful of what would

happen if the demons drank their share of the nectar of immortality,

forcibly seized the pot.

 

Wherever the demigods went with the pot of nectar, fierce fighting

ensued. In an endeavor to keep the nectar from falling into the hands

of the demons, the demigods hid it in four places on the earth,

Prayag (Allahabad), Hardwar, Ujjain, and Nasik. At each of the hiding

places, a drop of immortal nectar spilled from the pot and landed on

the earth. These four places are since believed to have acquired

mystical power.

 

Eventually, the demons overpowered the demigods and took possession

of the nectar of immortality. To rescue the demi­gods from the hands

of fate, Vishnu incarnated as a beautiful woman, Mohini-murti, and

approached the demons. When the demons saw the charming beauty of

Mohini-murti, they lost all composure. Seeing Her slender hips,

raised breasts, and pleasing smile, the demons completely forgot

about drinking the nectar of immortality. While the demons were thus

bewildered by Her beauty, Mohini-murti seized the nectar and returned

it to the demigods, who drank it immediately.

 

Sourse :www.indiadivine.org

 

with warm regards

Prasanna kumar

[Guest guest]

etc--Somayaji prasanna kumar <groupowner.prasanna > wrote:

The Origins of Kumbha MelaKumbha Mela derives its name from the immortal "Pot

of Nectar" described in ancient Vedic scriptures known as the Puranas. Kumbha

in Sanskrit language means "pot or pitcher'. Mela means "festival". Thus Kumbha

Mela literally means festival of the pot. Or in this case a festival celebrating

the appearance of the pot of nectar.The ancient origin of the Kumbha Mela is

described in the time-honored Vedic literatures of India as having evolved from

the bygone days of the universe when the demigods and the demons conjointly

produced the nectar of immortality. It is said that the demigods and the demons

assembled on the shore of

the milk ocean that lies in the celestial region of the cosmos. The demigods and

the demons made a plan to churn the milk ocean to produce the nectar of

immortality. They then agreed to share the nectar equally once it was

produced.For the task of churning the milk ocean, the Mandara Mountain was used

as the churning rod, and Vasuki, the king of serpents, became the rope for

churning. As the churning began, the Mandara Mountain began to sink deep into

the ocean, at which time Vishnu incarnated as a great tortoise and supported

the mountain on His back. With the demigods at Vasuki's tail and the demons at

his head, they churned the milk ocean for one thousand years.The churning of

the milk ocean first produced a deadly poison which Shiva drank without being

affected. As Shiva drank the poison, a few drops fell from his hands and were

licked up by scorpions, snakes, and similar other deadly crea­tures. After

Shiva

drank the poison, numerous opulent items were produced. First a surabhi cow

appeared, who could yield unlimited quantities of milk. A white horse named

Uccaihsrava was then produced, as well as a white elephant named Airavata. Then

a valuable gem called the Kaustubha-mani appearedNext came the apsaras,

beautiful dancing girls, and a host of other wonderful things appeared from the

milk ocean. At last a male person named Dhanvantari appeared carrying the pot of

immortal nectar in His hands. Seeing Dhanvantari with the pot of nectar, both

the demigods and demons became anxious. The demigods, being fearful of what

would happen if the demons drank their share of the nectar of immortality,

forcibly seized the pot.Wherever the demigods went with the pot of nectar,

fierce fighting ensued. In an endeavor to keep the nectar from falling into the

hands of the demons, the demigods hid it in four places on the earth, Prayag

(Allahabad), Hardwar, Ujjain, and Nasik. At each of the hiding places, a drop of

immortal nectar spilled from the pot and landed on the earth. These four places

are since believed to have acquired mystical power.Eventually, the demons

overpowered the demigods and took possession of the nectar of immortality. To

rescue the demi­gods from the hands of fate, Vishnu incarnated as a beautiful

woman, Mohini-murti, and approached the demons. When the demons saw the

charming beauty of Mohini-murti, they lost all composure. Seeing Her slender

hips, raised breasts, and pleasing smile, the demons completely forgot about

drinking the nectar of immortality. While the demons were thus bewildered by

Her beauty, Mohini-murti seized the nectar and returned it to the demigods, who

drank it immediately.Sourse :www.indiadivine.orgwith warm regardsPrasanna kumar

--> Lord shiva

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